Wigan Album

possibly oliver somers : mesnes st / market st ?

I remember Stan’s Toyshop in Greenough St looking very much like that. You could spend hours looking in the window. I got roller skates from there besides other toys. I don’t think it is Stan’s shop but most toy shops were like the above.

I would just love a toot in there.

I can see a BAYKO building set. I had one. If ever anyone had their moneys worth from a toy, I did. I had it for years, and bought extra pieces whenever I got any birthday money. I would buy them from a toy shop in Walgate which was more or less opposite the top of Library Street HOWARDS springs to mind.???
As I type this I can remember playing with it as though it was last week.

It looks very much like the Pram shop in Mesnes St?

There used to be a toy shop down a side street off Bradshawgate in Leigh that looked like that.....I bought a Sweep puppet for my daughter from there when she was a little girl; she still has him. You rarely see a proper toy shop that just sells toys now....it's always a "toy department" in a store selling other things. I don't know if the Leigh toy shop is still there but I have a feeling it has gone; I must have a look next time I go to Leigh.

My first thought was that it reminded me of the the shop that used to sell Airfix models just past the Queens Hall in Market Street. Did that use to be a toy shop in a previous life?

Could be the Model Shop on Market St. a bit further down from the Queens Hall. Think it was called something like Kendall's and specialised in Air Fix Kits and Hornby model railways, was still there until early 80's and might now be Galloways ?

When l was a little boy my dad took me to a toy shop at the top of wallgate, on the right as you look along from market place.He bought me a rovex electric train set the fore runner to triang.The shop window looked like the one l remember.

The Market Street toy shop was Forshaws.
I used to buy Humbrol enamel paints there, when I made my own fishing floats.

I do remember Newbles in Pemberton in the early sixties. Tri-ang train sets, Hornby Dublo train sets, Chemistry sets, Compendium of Games, Totopoly, Monopoly, Waddington's Table Football (best game ever), Beano and Dandy Annuals (plus a million more), and various dolls, prams, cars and trucks. The shop had a wonderful smell when you entered with your mum or dad. The shop later became Clayton's newsagents in the late sixties early seventies. Some places you never ever forget. So much for this modern A.I. crappy life that we all endure today. I've seen better times, maybe with less money, but the quality of those days lives on in the memory.

I can’t place it Ron but what a wonderful picture. Most if not all the toys look to be metal not plastic!
There were numerous independent toy shops in and around Wigan, Callands in Darlington Street was my local in the 50’s, Christmas being a special time. We did’t get much being three lads but our parents gave what they could and we appreciated it.

I remember Scott’s at the bottom of Ladies Lane in Hindley was a full of toys and bikes in the windows.

It’s sad but it’s true
the once that we knew
is now but a memory to hold .
We treasure its smell
to replay and dwell
and touch them again like we did .
The perfumes not gone
it lingers upon
the music we play in our minds
to forever hold dear
so close and so near
and each day a footstep
so missed …

Turner's or Howard's perhaps?

Wherever the shop is I bet they had a Christmas ‘ club’ to pay into. Many people did in the fifties paying a deposit then a few shillings a week. Hard to believe that these days when we can pay in full if it can be afforded. ( or credit card not something I have or want! )

A lovely Gollywog in the window, you don't see them anymore?

I love the sign "for goodness sake buy British make".
Sadly most toys and games are Chinese, as are household goods.
And we all know they don't last five minutes. Triang merged with Hornby toys, great products and of course British.